University hosts Civil Engineering Chinese students

The University of Wolverhampton hosted students and staff from a leading Chinese partner university recently.

16 students and a teacher from Yunnan Agricultural University took part in a two week immersion and development programme, completing their final year as students of the University of Wolverhampton.

The partnership between the University of Wolverhampton and Yunnan Agricultural University dates back to 1986 and the signing of the “Memorandum of Understanding” in 1987. Both universities celebrated the 30th anniversary of the agreement with a conference in March 2017.

Yunnan Agricultural University is a higher education institution located in the spring city – Kunming. As part of the Joint Educational Programme approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education, international students are offered the opportunity to complete a Civil and Environmental Engineering degree with the University.

The programme covers a mixture of professional development based study combined with Civil Engineering-based trips to the Elan Valley Hydroelectric power station and reservoirs, Hinkley Point Nuclear Power Station and Ironbridge.

As part of their trip, students have also visited London, Oxford, Bicester Shopping Village, Bath, Cheshire Oaks and Wightwick Manor in Wolverhampton.

Group Leader, Li Hongmei, said: “The Chinese government is encouraging Chinese universities to cooperate with outside universities so we can learn from their methodology, teaching practices and resources.

“We have a 30 year history with Wolverhampton and connecting the two through the programme is a good way to improve the relationship between the two universities and perhaps even the two countries.

“It’s the first time any of the students have travelled to Britain and most have never left China before, so this was such an opportunity for them to get to know the University that they are studying with.”

Phil Harris, Principal Lecturer and Head of International Recruitment and Transnational Education Development at the University, said: “I have already met most of the students out in Yunnan, and it’s wonderful to be able to welcome them here.

“They’re a really enthusiastic group of students and we are proud to be able to share our academic expertise, campus facilities and local and national heritage with them.

“I have been working with Yunnan for the last 25 years, first on research and now on a joint education programme and we have been delivering the Civil Engineering programme for the past two years. This is the start of the final year degree and we are looking forward to launching the programme in October.”

International students interested in studying at the University of Wolverhampton should check out the website for more information and details of available courses.